ONE of the best known faces in the countryside life of Worcestershire and Herefordshire has been honoured by rural watchdog the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) for boosting its membership.

David Price, who is aged 68 and lives at Ross-on-Wye, was recognised for achieving a top 10 sales performance during 2010.

Presenting the award at a ceremony in London, CLA deputy president Harry Cotterell said that Mr Price had successfully recruited new members in Worcestershire and Herefordshire for more than a generation and was still one of the most successful field officers in England and Wales.

Well-known to farmers and landowners in the two counties, Mr Price has been calling on them since 1987, apart from a spell as assistant director at the CLA’s West Midlands office and a brief time recruiting in Warwickshire and Wales.

He said: “The CLA is continuously at the cutting edge of legislation.

“I have always said that one of the biggest strengths of the CLA is its expertise in taxation and planning advice.

“This element of the organisation attracts many of our professional members, without whom we wouldn’t have real-life case histories to draw from.”

Now a part-time field officer for the CLA, Mr Price divides his time tending a small vineyard, playing golf and singing in Hereford’s male voice choir.

The strength of the CLA’s regional teams lies in their detailed local knowledge. They give support and help on how best to deal with the bureaucracy and regulation which farms and rural businesses endure. They are supported by an advisory team in the national office. Regional team members also lobby for members’ interests at a local level.